The Boston Celtics entered the 2024-25 season as the favorites to win the NBA Finals, and that notion still holds true today. But the margin that they hold has been shrinking over the past few weeks, as Jayson Tatum and company haven’t quite been the dominant force that we’ve expected. Should a recent “slump” be a cause of concern for Boston and their title hopes?
Celtics No Longer The Clear-Cut Favorite To Win The NBA Finals
The Celtics started off just as we all thought they would, hopping out to a 21-5 record and maintaining their status as championship favorites. But since December 19th, Boston has posted a .500 record, going 7-7 over their last 14 games, punctuated by a tough loss against the lowly Toronto Raptors on Wednesday.
I’m not worried about the Celtics yet — this stretch reeks of mid-season malaise — but it is very, very important to note that they deserve to lose when they wear the hideous jerseys they wore last night. The basketball gods took note.
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) January 16, 2025
While they remain in second place in the Eastern Conference, they are already 6.5 games back of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have remained in the top spot all season. The New York Knicks are in the third spot, and are just two full games back of Boston.
It is a far different story than we saw play out last season. During the 2023-24 NBA campaign, the Celtics were so dominant that they won the East by a whopping 14 games, which was the largest gap between no.1 and no.2 since 1976. They set records with their dominance, including winning 19 games by 25+ points, and 3 games by 50+. Boston won its first 20 games at home inside TD Garden, but is just 14-7 through the first 21 this year.
OKC Thunder Could Take Over The Top Spot On The Odds Board
Their postseason path will be undoubtedly tougher, as well. In order to reach the NBA Finals last year, the Celtics went 12-2 against the trio of the Heat, Cavaliers, and Pacers, and made quick work of the Mavericks in the championship round. If the season ended with the standings as they currently are, their path could include teams like the upstart Pistons, one of the Bucks or Magic, and of course the Cavaliers, who are just two games off from the best 39-game start in NBA history.
Kristaps Porzingis was noticeably frustrated after this loss. Said the Celtics had “no spirit, no personality.”
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) January 16, 2025
The odds reflect the reality. When the season started, the Celtics were listed at +300 to repeat as champions, easily the shortest odds on the board. Their designation has actually gone down since, but there are other teams that are hot on their tail. Boston currently sits at +250 to be crowned NBA Champions, but the Oklahoma City Thunder are at +260, and could take over the top spot with a couple of more losses by the Celtics. The Cavaliers are back at +850, and the knicks are listed at +1100.
The Celtics will play a back-to-back at home this weekend, as they’ll play host to the Magic and Hawks on Friday and Saturday. They’ll then embark on a tough West Coast road trip, in which they’ll take on the Warriors, Clippers, Lakers, and Mavericks during a 6-day span.
